Potential sources and racial disparities in the residential distribution of soil arsenic and lead among pregnant women

Abstract

Exposure to arsenic (As) or lead (Pb) has been associated with adverse health outcomes, and high-risk populations can be disproportionately exposed to these metals in soils. The objectives of this study were: to examine if predicted soil As and Pb concentrations at maternal residences of South Carolina (SC) low-income mothers differed based on maternal race (non-Hispanic black versus white), to examine whether differences in predicted residential soil As and Pb concentrations among black and white mothers differed by socioeconomic status (SES), and to examine whether such disparities persisted after controlling for anthropogenic sources of these metals, including direction from, and distance to industrial facilities. Kriged soil As and Pb concentrations were estimated at maternal residences in 11 locations in SC, and models with maternal race and both individual and US Census block group level SES measures were examined. US Environmental Protection Agency Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) facility As and Pb releases categorized by distance and direction to block groups in which mothers resided were also identified, as were proxy measures for historic use of leaded gasoline (road density) and Pb-based paint (categories of median year home built by US Census block group). Consistent racial disparities were observed for predicted residential soil As and Pb concentrations, and the disparity was stronger for Pb than As (betas from adjusted models for black mothers were 0.12 and 2.2 for As and Pb, respectively, all p<0.006). Higher road density and older homes in block groups were more closely associated with higher predicted soil As and Pb concentrations than on-site releases of As and Pb categorized by facility location. The findings suggest that non-Hispanic black mothers in this study population had elevated residential As and Pb soil concentrations, after adjusting for SES, and that soil As and Pb concentrations were not associated with recent industrial releases.

Addressing the Challenge of Potentially Hazardous Elements in the Reduction of Hypertension, Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease in the Caribbean

“…Furthermore, environmental studies have been predominantly carried out in non-black populations, despite black populations being the more vulnerable racial/ethnic group prone globally to NCDs. 35 , 36 …”

Perspectives of Nano-Materials and Nanobiosensors in Food Safety and Agriculture

“…Accumulation of these heavy metals and elements more than the optimum level cause serious problem to the plants there by to the human up on the food consumption. Heavy metals such as nickel, [138], arsenic [139], lead [140], chromium [141], cadmium and copper [142] are commonly found in contaminated soils [143]. The presence of heavy metals increases oxidative stress in plants, which further triggers synthesis of pigments like chlorophyll and βcarotene [141,144].…”

New Toxicology Tools and the Emerging Paradigm Shift in Environmental Health Decision-Making

“…The use of new technologies in decision-making must also be protected from perpetuating or amplifying existing health disparities. Extensive literature documents the disproportionate health and environmental hazards faced by many communities of color, low-income communities, and Indigenous communities (Bullard 2000;Burwell-Naney et al 2013;Lee and Mohai 2012;American Lung Association 2001;Davis et al 2016;Seabury et al 2017;Zota and Shamasunder 2017). Disproportionate exposures to toxic chemicals coupled with exposures to social hazards (e.g., poverty) can result in an amplification of harm faced by these communities (Gee and Payne-Sturges 2004).…”